Serving and Leading For The Glory of Our Creator

What Happens When I Choose To Walk In Love

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”-1 Corinthians 13:1 (NASB)

Tensions are high in the world today. It seems like everywhere you turn, primarily on social media, you find people saying hurtful and angry words to each other. They totally disregard the human on the other side and want to prove their point no matter who they hurt or how it hurts.

The sad part is, I see this from many Christians.

There are Christians who have chosen their stance on certain issues and instantly put down and shutout anyone who holds a differing view. They have chosen where they are planting their flag and willing to lose friendships, sacrifice relationships, and risk their Christian witness with anger and vitriol towards the opposite side.

It breaks my heart.

How did we get to this point?

I understand the world, or non-Christians, acting in such a way, but for people who claim Jesus to allow their hearts to overcome by political and racial divide is beyond me.

They completely put the words of Christ to love our neighbor as ourself or even to love our enemy through prayer and kindness, out the window.

Why?

The simple answer: They have chosen to walk in selfishness and not love.

1 Corinthians 13 defines love like this…

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails;…When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(1 Corinthians 13:4-13;NASB)

These verses should be familiar from weddings, but to look at it as we should, from the perspective of the Church, we should see that our love should be stronger than our anger.

Nobody will ever agree on everything. However, for Christians, this is the one thing we should agree on 100%. Love should be our primary factor when choosing the words we speak or posts we share.

It does not mean we cannot express pain, hurt, struggle, or fears. However, it does mean we are to share these things without creating division or stirring more hate and pain. We acknowledge, but don’t feed into, the issues.

What happens when I choose to walk in love?

I have less stress. It is not about me. It is about the other. It does not take away from my emotions, but I realize that my feelings do not overtake the feelings of others. I strive to understand and not live for my points to be the only things heard.

I bridge gaps. I sincerely seek ways to bring people to the table to discuss issues. I can see both sides and walk in harmony with both. Unity is my desire and I don’t separate myself from others.

I see people as God does. They are His creation, just as flawed as I am due to the fall, but equally receiving grace and mercy if they are called to follow Jesus.

Love will be my guide in these days. There will be people who hurt over things I don’t agree with, but I will walk in love for them, which will bring me to walk with them in their burden.

Love will accomplish a lot more than spreading hate over the internet or in public. Speaking in love will do more good than creating more divide by sharing your disdain for another human being.

If you are a follower of Jesus reading this, please consider how you represent the Savior of the world, to the world. When you take a side, you close your doors to others. You can hold a view, but be patient and listen to the other side.

Listening might be the best way to show love in the world today. Maybe we should all walk as listeners in love today.

May you see your role in spreading love today. May you walk in love for the world in order to reveal the Savior.

Peace and blessings friends.

QUESTION: What are some ways you can be better at spreading love in the world?